Akshay Bhatia Gave an Emotional Interview at Puerto Rico Open for the Best Reason Ever

Former junior sensation Akshay Bhatia has captivated the golf community since he turned pro at 17 years old and began chasing his goal of playing on the PGA Tour. 

At the Puerto Rico Open—where Bhatia finished just two shots behind Colombia’s Nico Echavarria—he accomplished that very goal, and naturally, his reaction was priceless. 

Bhatia, now 21, racked up enough FedEx Cup points in Puerto Rico to earn Special Temporary Membership on the PGA Tour. Big-name stars such as Will Zalatoris and Tom Kim also forged their path on the PGA Tour through the Special Temporary Membership status. 

“I can’t believe I’m crying, oh my God,” the Korn Ferry Tour player said as he processed the career-changing news. “It means a lot. I’ve worked really hard. It’s been a crazy journey for sure. Last year was really disappointing. I got hurt and didn’t get my card through the Korn Ferry Tour. It’s crazy.”

Bhatia, who had one of the most decorated junior golf resumes in recent memory, couldn’t hold back an influx of emotion during his touching post-round interview. 

“Didn’t even know I shot 7 under. Chipped in three times on the same hole this week. It’s just a great story, and I want to write a book about my life and my journey and it’s definitely going to be a really good chapter, for sure,” Bhatia said. 

The North Carolina resident expressed that after Puerto Rico, he’s excited to get home to his family, where he can hopefully share a drink with his parents now that he’s “legally able to drink.” 

“I know my dad is going to probably cry and I’ve only seen him do it one time,” Bhatia said. “It’s going to be a fun week off and I’m excited for Valspar. It’s where it all started for me, my first ever Tour event.”

Bhatia achieved the Special Temporary Membership milestone by gathering enough FedEx Cup points to match the player who finished 150th on the points list for the previous PGA Tour season. 

As a Special Temporary member of the Tour, Bhatia will no longer be limited to just 12 PGA Tour starts per season, and he can accept unlimited sponsors exemptions, rather than the seven exemptions that non-members are allowed. As the Korn Ferry Tour begins a five-week long break from competition, Bhatia will be ready to make the most of the PGA Tour starts he’ll inevitably receive in the coming weeks.